Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christy Deen, owner of Drip-Thru Coffee®, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Drip-Thru, we believe specialty coffee can be served fast while not compromising quality or service. A small business local to the Atlanta Metro area, we are part of the community and invested in the local economy. We make every effort to use suppliers and vendors that are also local to Georgia. Our desire is to benefit our customers, employees, and partners here in our community. Our coffee comes from a Georgia roaster, who roast it to order and delivers it to Drip Thru every week, the day after it is roasted. Our roaster buys coffee via fair trade practices making sure the farmers that grow the coffee receive a fair price for their product.
Tell us about yourself
I began working in the food and beverage industry at age 14. For more than 20 years, I managed restaurants from Disney World to the Atlanta Airport. At some point along the way, I began to dream of the day I could work on building a business of my own. All the experience I gained along the way definitely contributed to the success of Drip-Thru.
I'm very passionate about customer service - internal and external. I want to see staff grow professionally and personally while delivering the best service they can for others! It's more than coffee. I'm in the people business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, being able to withstand a global pandemic and celebrate a five-year and three-year anniversary for our locations in 2021 feels surreal. Keeping the business going and growing into the unknown has been my biggest accomplishment yet.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Life balance. I've gotten better at it over the years, but it remains a challenge for sure. It's hard not to think about something 24/7 that you are so passionate about. However, everyone needs some type of pause to reflect and recharge at some point.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Experience, the hands-on kind. Take an FT, PT, or volunteer position in the same field and see what you can learn in the process. Is it still the type of business you want to start, run or grow?
- Network. Connect with other professionals and look for ways to engage - i.e., conferences, webinars, trade shows, etc.
- Never stop learning. You can always learn something new each day. Read, research, and make every effort to learn all you can about the business you want to start!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to give a special shout-out to my husband, Martin Deen, and daughter, Grace Deen, for being so supportive over the years in pursuing my dream! They have not only worked by my side but have been my biggest cheerleaders when I needed it the most.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dripthrucoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dripthrucoffee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dripthrucoffee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DripThruCoffee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dripthrucoffee/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.